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-nitr tst-t5 @anni @Hirn ANDREW H. WHITNEY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

Letters .Patent No. 68,138, elated August 2T, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCK-CLASP FOB. UMBRELLS.

TO ALL WHOM ITV MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, ANDREW H. WHITNEY, of Portland, in the county ofCumberland, and State of Maine have invented a new and-useful Lock-Clasp for Umbrellas; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiication, in which- Figure 1 shows a side View in projection of my invention, with the key inserted.

Figure 2, a sectional side vieiv of the same.

Figure 3, a view of the lower end of the key.

Figure 4, a view of the spring'or catch on the elastic clasp.

My invention has for its object a safe and convenient mode of securing an umbrella-top, whenclosed. It consists of a band which isintended to encompass the folds of the closed umbrella-top at the place where Vumbrellas are usually bound or tied by the string or other means commonly employed. One end of this band is secured to a small chamber by riveting or any convenient means, or the band and chamber may be, ofuone piece and the chamber be struck up from the end of the band. l

The chamber is seenat b, the baud at a. The chamber has two slots upon opposite sides, (see c al.) Upon the oi` end of the band that encompasses the umbrella are made two or more springsby cutting into the side of the bandrdiagonally, or bending over the end of the same; theseare represented at e. The points of the springs'thus formed project somewhat above the hoop or baud that encompasses thc cloth of the umbrella. The end ofthe band that is inserted into the chamber, may be attached to the part that surroundsthe umbrella-tops or manufactured together' 4with and as part of the salme. When the end, of the band is pressedinto the slot as seen in iig. 2, the spring e is first, upon its entrance, pressed down, and then, expanding or .rising up in the chamber, holds the end of the band in the chamber by pressing against the inner side of the chamber, which forms a. shoulder for this purpose, and thus retains the band or hooparound the umbrella. Two or more springs may be made, in order'that the band, when made of non-elastic material, may be contracted to suit the closed or folded top of the various sizes of umbrellas. In the top of the chamber is an aperture to receive a key,

without which the band cannot be unclaspedivthe key is.of vthe ordinary form. By pressing the key into thel aperture and turning it so that the vra-rd on the bottom thereof will press down the spring level with the other part of the band, the band can be `unclasped and removed from the umbrella-top. L is a smalf hole through which the clasp may be sewedV to the cloth of the top. By this means no umbrella can be opened and used except by the person having the key to unlocl( the clasp thereuponywhich, irrr addition to constituting an ornamental and safe appendage and clasp to the umbrella-top, will render property in this convenient and indispensable article somewhat more secure. y

What I claim as my invention, and desire ,to secure by Letters Patent, is

The lock-clasp for umbrellas, combining the chamber, band, and spring, as described.

A. H. W'HTNEY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. CLIFFORD, HENnrO. HOUSTON. 

